The Atlanta Triathlon Club Hosting Seminars This Week That Can Help Cascade Reach New Year's Fitness Goals

Cynthia Gunner has come a long way since her first day in a cycling class with the Atlanta Triathlon Club (ATC).

"After ten minutes, I ran out of the room crying," Gunner recalled.  "I felt sick to my stomach and I was so embarrassed."

An African-American woman in her thirties, Gunner began to re-evaluate her inactive lifestyle after a routine physical.

"I was very overweight and my doctor diagnosed me with high blood pressure," Gunner explained.

Gunner began to take medication to regulate her hypertension, and that's when her doctor told her about the Atlanta Triathlon Club and the organization's scholarship program.  The club is hosting information sessions this week from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wed., Jan., 5, at the City of Atlanta Adamsville Natatorium, 3201 M. L. King Jr. Dr., Atlanta, Ga. 30311. A second seminar is set for 5 to 6 p.m. Sun., Jan. 9, at Atlanta Cycling Vinings, 4335 Cobb Parkway, Atlanta, Ga. 30339.

"When I attended the first meeting, I was so overwhelmed," Gunner said.   "Everyone looked so athletic, but when they began to share their stories, I knew if I could over come the mental block, I would succeed."

Marcia Ritter is the co-founder of the club, which was established in 2008.  She, like Gunner, also began participating in triathlons to help combat obesity. 

"My father passed away due to complications from diabetes," said Ritter. "I was diagnosed as pre-diabetic, I was overweight, and I had high blood pressure."

Over time, Ritter began to see improvements in her health as well as weight loss.

"I can't describe the sense of accomplishment that I felt when I completed my first triathlon," Ritter  said. "I just knew I wanted to spend my time bringing the sport to the forefront."

Ritter teamed up with club co-founder  Jim Boylan in 2007.  Boylan serves as the ATC's executive director and, along with Ritter, approached the City of Atlanta to create a program that would promote healthy lifestyles and to help introduce more minorities to triathlons.

"When I first approached the city about starting the program, I really had a vision to make the program as inclusive as possible," Ritter said. 

While the City of Atlanta doesn't give any funding to the club, Ritter says it does provide deeply discounted access to city fitness facilities and swimming pools for training.

Historically, triathlons have been seen as an elite activity of the white upper-middle class.  A June 2009 study released by USA Triathlon shows the average triathlon participant as white, middle aged, with a six-figure income and the willingness to spend thousands of dollars annually on bikes, training, race fees and other equipment. 

Program director Jim Boylan says the club is doing everything it can to diversify the ranks of triathletes.

"In our organization, about 20 percent of our club members and 25 percent of the coaching staff are minorities," Boylan said. "We meet and train in urban, inner- city neighborhoods with cycling classes held at Adamsville Natatorium and weekday swim workouts at the Southwest Atlanta's Pittman pool." 

Boylan admits the minorities who are club members are primarily middle- to upper- middle class and that the cost of the sport is the biggest challenge in trying to reach minorities with lower incomes.

"It's not a cheap sport to participate in," said Boylan.  "Races are expensive, bikes are around $750, and our club membership is about $380." 

To help overcome the financial barriers, Boylan and Ritter launched a scholarship program.  In addition to Gunner, three others were selected to receive the scholarship last year, including Carolyn Strozier, a native of Southwest Atlanta. 

"I was obese," said Strozier.  "I needed an activity that would help me get the weight off." 

The scholarship waived the $380 membership fee , and, through the help of corporate sponsors, provided the participants with running shoes and other supplies to help them train. 

Strozier and Gunner were the only scholarship recipients to stick with the training program and successfully complete a triathlon.

"We created the scholarship program to hold true to our mission statement," said Ritter. "We really wanted to find a way to bring diverse people into the sport without them having to worry about the cost factor."

Finding more sponsors willing to donate items and funds is a high priority, Boylan said.

"We collect money through the membership fees, and part of that goes to train the coaches while the other part goes to cover facility fees," Boylan said.

Without the extra funding, other program expenses like bike rentals and race registration fees still have to be covered.

"We just can't afford to buy a bike for everyone," said Boylan. 

Instead, Boylan says, the tri club uses the facilities provided by the City of Atlanta to hold spin classes, to help members build up leg strength.

Leading up to race day, some program participants borrow or rent bikes.

In only three years, the club's membership has nearly tripled, and members of the community feel encouraged about the growth of the program and hope to see it expand across the greater Atlanta region.

Katrina Blassingame is an African-American woman who lives  in the Cascade neighborhood and has been active in triathlons for the past five years.

"I've observed a definite increase in the number of minorities I see at the races," Blassingame said.  "I think the number of African-Americans in particular will continue to grow if more structured training programs like the [Atlanta Triathlon Club] are established in minority communities."

Reflecting back on her first day of spin class several months ago, Gunner chuckles.

"As soon as I ran out, a woman ran after to me to see if I was ok," she said. "Every step of the way people were next to me, cheering me on.  Of course there were moments when I doubted myself, especially when it came to the swimming part, but they never left me behind."

Gunner no longer needs her blood pressure medication and she, along with Strozier lost weight during their triathlon training.

Stories like these are the ones Boylan enjoys the most.

"I love doing this stuff. I love watching people build up and succeed and change their lives," he said.

"The program isn't easy," added Ritter. "It takes time away from your family. You work all day then spend evenings and weekends training, but it is so rewarding in the end."

For more information about The Atlanta Triathlon Club, the information session or the scholarships go to: atlantatriclub.com. You also can learn more about ATC on Facebook at http://patch.com/buPGZ.